When we reach the base of Mt. Ida, I ask Titian to remain with the horses. Luckily, he protests little, knowing that this particular part of the journey is very personal to me. Lykaios and I gather the supplies we will need for the hours it takes us to reach the summit and come back. These will be the most arduous hours of the trip.

"Thank you, Titian, for your assistance thus far. Lykaios and I shall return to you sometime late this afternoon. Hopefully we will be able to make it back to Kamares by nightfall. I think it would be best to stay the night there, to get some rest before continuing on to Koumasa."

"I know you are anxious and would ride on through the night to see General Agrafiotis again, my Lady. But this is a wise choice in light of the events of the past days and what lies just ahead of you here. You will need your rest. I will be here when you return. The gods be with you on your journey up the mountain," he says and kisses me on the cheek.

Lykaios and I begin our trek. Once we are well on our way, she turns to me.

"My Lady, are you sure you are up to this?"

Assuming she was asking as well, because of Titian's concern, I responded jokingly, "Well, if I'm not, I guess you will have to carry me."

We both laughed. It broke some of the tension and stress of the moment, and we found ourselves chatting a good deal of the way up. Of course, nothing personal was spoken of, for that would have been a breach of protocol. But it certainly helped the time to pass. A few hours later, we found ourselves at the summit shrine.